#297: Mechelle Freeman-2024 Olympic Head Women's Relay Coach

The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast

We had the incredible honor of sitting down with Mechelle Freeman, the 2024 Head Women's Relay Coach for Team USA. Mechelle brings a wealth of experience, from her days blazing down the track at South Carolina 🐔🏃‍♀️ to leading the world’s fastest women on the biggest stages.

🔥 In this episode, Mechelle shares:

- How racing boys in her neighborhood sparked her love for track 🏃‍♀️💨

- The twin dynamic – growing up with her equally fast sister 👯‍♀️

- Winning a National Championship at South Carolina and learning from Coach Curtis Frye 🏆

- Her transition from advertising to chasing Olympic dreams and eventually coaching elite athletes

- The science and art behind coaching Team USA’s relays – and the pressure that comes with it! 💪📊

One of the standout moments? Mechelle’s motto: "I observe and I learn." 🧠👀

✨ We also dive deep into her work with TrackGirlz, empowering young women in the sport and breaking down barriers for future generations 🌍👧🏽💪.

🎧 Hit play and get inspired by Mechelle’s journey of resilience, faith, and leadership – this one’s not to be missed!

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into nearly 300 episodes featuring insights from coaching legends such as Boo Schexnayder and Dan Pfaff, Diljeet Taylor (BYU) and Beth Alford-Sullivan, as well as superstar coaches Petros Kyprianou (Illinois) and Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) and many more! Find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more for your listening pleasure.

📲 Stay Connected: Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow him on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), shoot him an email at [email protected], or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍

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